Tube for heat exchange devices



Jan. 10, 1933. A. B. MODINE TUBE FOR HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICES Filed Nov.20, 1929 W; we

:Patcnted Jan. 10, 1933 rarer:

ABTHUE TH. MODINIE, F RAGINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO MODINEMLANUFAG'I'URHTG LGMIPANY, 0F BAGLCNE WISCONSIN, A COBIGRATICN OFWESCQNSIN TUBE FOB HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICES Application filed November 20,1929.- Serial No. 408,497.

The invention relates to improvements in heat exchange devices and isherein shown and described as performing the function of a device ofthis character which is employed to maintain a medium of an internalcombustion engine in a cooled condition.

The invention has, among its prime objects, the provision of aconstruction whereby air which is circulated between the tubes of theradiator to efi'ect a cooling of the circulating medium, is caused to bedirected by the tubes into engagement therewith, be agitated thereby andthus facilitate cooling and maintenance of the fluid in a coolcondition.

It is an object of the invention to construct the fluid conductingpassages in a manner to accomplish the advantages just referred to.

Another object of the invention is to form the tubes for the circulatingmedium in a m manner to provide a recessed ortion and an extending orprotruding tubu argiortion, the latter forming a fluid passage an toarrange tubes fashioned as above-in spaced relation to each other withthe projecting or tubular portion of one tube arranged relatively to therecessed portion of an adjacent tube to thereby provide' a tortuous pathforair passing between the tubes and also to thereby provide means foragitating said air during its travel all between said tubes and inaddition to provide means for directing said air towards the tubes tothus result in increasin the cooling efiiciency of heat exchangedevices.

It is another object to combine with fluid 85 passages constructed asabove, heat radiating fins, the latter being fashioned to agitate airpassing between said fins.

The invention has these and other objects, all of which will beexplained in detail and 4 more readily understood when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates oneembodiment of which the invention is susceptible, it being obvious thatchanges and modifications may be re- 4 sorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the appended claims forming a part hereof.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an automobile radiatorconstructed ac- 59 cording to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, the parts being shownat a slightly enlarged scale Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 ofFig. 1, also slightly enlarged; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the tubes employed. in the structureshown in Fig. 1, having heat radiating fins associated there- Wit 1 Theembodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing is shown as beingemployed in connection withan automobile radiator generally designated10, however, it is understood that theuse of the invention is notlimited to radiators employed for this purpose. The radiator shownincludes the tanks 11 and 12 having theinlet 13 and the outlet 14, thetanks being connected together by a plurality of vertically arrangedfluid tubes or passages 15 which form a communication between the tanksand provide passages for y the cooling medium which circulates throughthe radiator and back to the water jacket of an engine (not shown) withwhich the radiator is associated.

The structure as shown in Fig. 1 also contemplates the use of parallelhorizontally arranged fins 16 which in the present construction areapertured to allow the association thereof with the tubes 15. It isunderstood that the tubes generally designated 15 are arranged in spacedrelation to each other and thus provide a passage permitting air totravel between them.

By referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 4 it will be noted that each ofthe tubes generally designated 15 is fashioned to provide a plurality oflongitudinally extending fluid passages 17, 18 and 19 and the recessedportions 20, 21 and 22, the tubular portion 18 being arranged at therecess such as 20. It

may be here stated that any desired number of projections and recess-esmay be utilized. It will be noted also that the tubular passages such as1?, l8 and 19 and the recessed portions produce shoulders 23 which formafiles which are provided to engage air passing between the tubes andcause its agitation and thus increase the cooling eficiency of the air.1W

, Win44 By again referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that thetubular assages form projections and that said pro ections of one tubeare arranged opposite a recess of an adjacent tube and since the tubesgenerally designated 15 are arranged in spaced relation to each other, atortuous space is produced between said tubes which will increase thedistance which the air is compelled to travel during its passage betweensaid tubes and thus more efficiently cool the circulating or coolingmedium contained in the tubular pzssages such as 17, 18 and 19. It willalso noted that the relative arrangement of the tubes such as 17, 18 and19 and the recesses of the tubes generall designated 15 cause the airpassing throug the space between said tubes 15 to be successivelydirected in opposed directions toward said tubes which will also agitatethe air and manifestly increase the cooling effect upon the fluidcirculating through the tubular passages such as 17 18 and 19. s

here be stated that the tubes gen- It ma I erally d esignated 15 may beformed of a single sheet of relatively thin material which sheet is bentlongitudinally intermediate the edges of the material, the free edgesthereof being brought together and welded or other wise secured witheach other to form a leakproof connection at the connected edgesthereof. Whereas the tubes 15 are constructed in this manner, it isunderstood that this particular construction need not be adhered to asvarious other constructions may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

. It will be noted by again referring to 3 that a wall such as 240i arecess such-as 20 projects a slight distance beyond the termination ofthe side walls of an adjacent vtubular passage such as 18 and that thiswall 24 is spaced a slight distance from the depressions forming thewall of the recesses such as 21 and 22 which results in providing arelatively narrow space between these portions in which a portion ofthe'cooling medium is contained during circulation, which will thussubject a very thin film of cooling medium to the action of a current ofair and thus assist to quickly reduce the temperature of the coolingmedium circulating throu. h the radiator at this point.

Asfiefore stated, it is contemplated, when found desirable, to associatethe fins 16 with tubes 15 constructed as above described and to formsaid fins to produce means for engagin the air passing. between saidtubes cause said airto be turbulated. To

vide one or more projections and recesses respectively designated25 and'26 which will engagethe air and agitateit. These fins may tures such as2-7 to allow said fins to be provided with a plurality of aperpassedendwise along the tubes nerally designated 15 to the desired position uon said tubes to which said fins are brazed or soldered in the usualmanner.

From the foregoing descri tion of the invention, it is manifest that t econstruction of the tubes is such that said tubes provide a simple andefiicient means for causing air which is introduced between said tubesto be compelled to travel a tortuous path, be agitated and brought intoengagement with the sides of the tubes. It is further evident thatby'constructing said tubes in a manner to provide each tube with aplurality of fluid passages that the cooling medium circulating througha given tube is divided into a plurality of separate streams which willthus cause the temperature of the fluid to be more quickly dissipated.The association of fins with a construction such as this character willincrease the cooling efiiciency of devices of this character and thusresult in producing an effective cooling construction.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to cover byLetters Patcut is:

1. A radiator comprised of a plurality of tubes, each tube having aplurality of fluid passages, one tube being arranged in spaced relationto an adjacent tube, the fluid passages of one tube bein arrangedrelatively to the fluid passages 0% an ad acent tube to thereby providemeans for directing air into contacLwith tubes defining said space andagitating said air during passage through said space and transverselyarranged fins having air agitating'means connected with said tubes.

2. A radiator comprised of a luralit of tubes, each tube having aplurality of uid pasages, one tube being arranged in spaced relation toan adjacent tube, the fluid passages of one tube bein arrangedrelatively to the fluid passages 0% thereby provide means for directingair into contactwith tubes defining said space and agitating said airduring passage through said spaceand transversely arran ed heatradiating strips connected withsmd tubes, said strips being formed toprovide recesses and projections.

an ad acent tube to its In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe I ago

